No More Learning

Now King Atli eggs on his folk to set on fiercely, and eagerly they fight ; but the Giukings fell on so hard that King Atli gave back into the hall, and within doors was the fight, and fierce beyond all fights.
That battle was the death of many a man, but such was the ending thereof that there fell all the folk of those brethren, and they twain alone stood up on their feet, and yet many more must fare to hell first before their weapons.
And now they fell on Gunnar the king, and because of the host of men that set on him was hand laid on him, and he was cast into fetters ; afterwards fought Hogni, with the stoutest heart and the greatest manlihood ; and he felled to earth twenty of the stoutest of the champions of King Atli, and many he thrust into the fire that burnt amidst the hall, and all were of one accord that such a man might scarce be seen ; yet in the end was he borne down by many and taken.
312 TALES FROM THE NORTHERN MYTHS.
Then said King Atli : " A marvelous thing how many men have gone their ways before him ! Cut the heart from out of him, and let that be his bane ! "
Hogni said, " Do according to thy will ; merrily will I abide whatso thou wilt do against me; and thou shalt see that my heart is not adrad, for hard matters have I made trial of ere now, and all things that may try a man was I fain to bear, whiles yet I was unhurt; but now sorely am I hurt, and thou alone henceforth will bear mastery in our dealings together. "
Then spake a counselor of King Atli, "Better rede I thereto ; take we the thrall Hjalli, and give respite to Hogni ; for this thrall is made to die, since the longer he lives the less worth shall he be. "
The thrall hearkened, and cried out aloft, and fled away anywhither where he might hope for shelter, crying out that a hard portion was his because of their strife and wild doings, and an ill day for him whereon he must be dragged to death from his sweet life and his swine keeping. But they caught him, and turned a knife against him, and he yelled and screamed or ever he felt the point thereof.
Then in such wise spake Hogni as a man seldom speaketh who is fallen into hard need, for he prayed for the thrall's life, and said that these shrieks he could not away with, and that it were a lesser matter to him to play out the play to the end ; and therewithal the thrall gat his life as for that time; but Gunnar and Hogni are both laid in fetters.
see
Then spake King Atli with Gunnar the king, and bade him tell out concerning the gold, and where it was, if he would have his life.
But he answered, " Nay, first will I behold the bloody heart of Hogni, my brother. "
So now they caught hold of the thrall again, and cut the heart from out of him, and bore it unto King Gunnar, but he said, —
" The faint heart of Hjalli may ye here behold, little like the proud heart of Hogni, for as much as it trembleth now, more by the half it trembled whenas it lay in the breast of him. "
So now they fell on Hogni even as Atli urged them, and cut the heart from out of him, but such was the might of his manhood that he laughed while he abode that torment, and
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE. 313
all wondered at his worth, and in perpetual memory is it held sithence. —
Then they showed it to Gunnar, and he said,
" The mighty heart of Hogni, little like the faint heart of Hjalli, for little as it trembleth now, less it trembled whenas in his breast it lay ! But now, O Atli, even as we die so shalt thou die; and lo, I alone wot where the gold is, nor shall Hogni be to tell thereof now; to and fro played the matter in my mind whiles we both lived, but now have I myself determined for myself, and the Rhine River shall rule over the gold, rather than that the Huns shall bear it on the hands of them. " "
Then said King Atli, Have away the bondsman," and so they did.
" But Gudrun called to her men, and came to Atli, and said, May it fare ill with thee now and from henceforth, even as
thou hast ill held to thy word with me ! "
So Gunnar was cast into a worm close [snake pen], and
many worms abode him there, and his hands were fast bound ; but Gudrun sent him a harp, and in such wise did he set forth his craft that wisely he smote the harp, smiting it with his toes, and so excellently well he played that few deemed they had heard such playing, even when the hand had done it. And with such might and power he played that all the worms fell asleep in the end, save one adder only, great and evil of aspect, that crept unto him and thrust its sting into him until it smote his heart; and in such wise with great hardihood he ended his life days.
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
(From the "Kalevala. " Translated by John M. Crawford. Used by permission of Robert Clarke & Co. )
[Kalevala (signifying " abode of heroes") : The national epic of Finland, the elements of which are popular songs, legendary poems, etc. It owes its present form to Dr. Elias Lonnrott, a Finnish scholar (1802-1884), who spent many years in travel in Finland and the Finnish parts of Lapland and Russia, faithfully recording all the songs and stories that he heard from peasants, fisher men, etc. The first version (1835) contained twelve thousand verses, in thirty-two runes or cantos ; the second version (1849), the present form of the poem, has
314 LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
twenty-three thousand verses, in fifty runes. Professor Max MUUer said that the Kalovala possessed merits not dissimilar to those of the Iliad, and would claim its place as the fifth national epic of the world. ]
Rune XXIX: The Isle of Refuge.
Lemminkainen, full of joyance, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli,
Took provisions in abundance,
Fish and butter, bread and bacon, Hastened to the Isle of Refuge,
Sailed away across the oceans, — Spake these measures on departing : "Fare thee well, mine island dwelling, I must sail to other borders,
To an island more protective,
Till the second summer passes ;
Let the serpents keep the island,
Lynxes rest within the glenwood,
Let the blue moose roam the mountains,
Let the wild geese eat the barley.
Fare thee well, my helpful mother !
When the warriors of the Northland,
From the dismal Sariola,
Come with swords, and spears, and crossbows, Asking for my head in vengeance,
Say that I have long departed,
Left my mother's island dwelling, When the barley had been garnered. "
Then he launched his boat of copper, Threw the vessel to the waters,
From the iron-banded rollers,
From the cylinders of oak wood,
On the masts the sails he hoisted, Spread the magic sails of linen, In the stern the hero settled
And prepared to sail his vessel, One hand resting on the rudder.
Then the sailor spake as follows, — These the words of Lemminkainen :
" Blow, ye winds, and drive me onward, Blow ye steady, winds of heaven, Toward the island in the ocean,
That my bark may fly in safety
To my father's place of refuge, "
To the far and nameless island !
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
Soon the winds arose as bidden, Rocked the vessel o'er the billows, O'er the blue back of the waters,
O'er the vast expanse of ocean ;
Blew two months and blew unceasing, Blew a third month toward the island, Toward his father's Isle of Refuge.
Sat some maidens on the seaside, On the sandy beach of ocean, Turned about in all directions, Looking out upon the billows ;
One was waiting for her brother,
And a second for her father,
And a third one, anxious, waited
For the coming of her suitor ;
There they spied young Lemminkainen, There perceived the hero's vessel
Sailing o'er the bounding billows ;
It was like a hanging cloudlet, Hanging 'twixt the earth and heaven.
Thus the island maidens wondered, Thus they spake to one another : —
" What this stranger on the ocean, What is this upon the waters ?
Art thou one of our sea vessels ?
Wert thou builded on this island ?
Sail thou straightway to the harbor, To the island point of landing,
That thy tribe may be discovered. "
Onward did the waves propel Rocked his vessel o'er the billows, Drove to the magic island, Safely landed Lemminkainen
On the sandy shore and harbor.
Spake he thus when he had landed, These the words that Ahti uttered — " Is there room upon this island,
Is there space within this harbor, Where my bark may lie at anchor, " Where the sun may dry my vessel
This the answer of the virgins, Dwellers on the Isle of Refuge — " There room within this harbor, On this island, space abundant, Where thy bark may lie at anchor,
is
it
:
?
:
it,
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
Where the sun may dry thy vessel ;
Lying ready are the rollers,
Cylinders adorned with copper ;
If thou hadst a hundred vessels,
Shouldst thou come with boats a thousand, We would give them room in welcome. "
Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Rolled his vessel in the harbor,
On the cylinders of copper, — Spake these words when had ended :
" Is there room upon this island,
Or a spot within these forests,
Where a hero may be hidden
From the coming din of battle,
From the play of spears and arrows ? Thus replied the island maidens : —
" There are places on this island,
On these plains a spot befitting,
Where to hide thyself in safety,
Hero son of little valor.
Here are many, many castles,
Many courts upon this island ;
Though there come a thousand heroes, Though a thousand spearmen follow, Thou canst hide thyself in safety. " Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : —
" Is there room upon this island,
Where the birch tree grows abundant, Where this son may fell the forest, And may cultivate the fallow ? " Answered thus the island maidens : — " There is not a spot befitting,
Not a place upon the island,
Where to rest thy wearied members, Not the smallest patch of birch wood, Thou canst bring to cultivation.
All our fields have been divided,
All these woods have been apportioned, Fields and forests have their owners. "
Lemminkainen asked this question, These the words of Kaukomieli : —
" Is there room upon this island, Worthy spot in field or forest,
Where to sing my songs of magic, Chant my gathered store of wisdom,
"
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
Sing mine ancient songs and legends ? " Answered thus the island maidens : —
" There is room upon this island, Worthy place in these dominions,
Thou canst sing thy garnered wisdom, Thou canst chant thine ancient legends, Legends of the times primeval,
In the forest, in the castle,
On the island plains and pastures. " Then began the reckless minstrel
To intone his wizard sayings ;
Sang he alders to the waysides,
Sang the oaks upon the mountains,
On the oak trees sang he branches,
On each branch he sang an acorn,
On the acorns, golden rollers,
On each roller sang a cuckoo ;
Then began the cuckoos, calling,
Gold from every throat came streaming, Copper fell from every feather,
And each wing emitted silver,
Filled the isle with precious metals.
Sang again young Lemminkainen, Conjured on, and sang, and chanted, Sang to precious stones the sea sands, Sang the stones to pearls resplendent, Robed the groves in iridescence,
Sang the island full of flowers, Many-colored as the rainbow.
Sang again the magic minstrel,
In the court a well he conjured,
On the wall a golden cover,
On the lid a silver dipper,
That the boys might drink the water, That the maids might lave their eyelids. On the plains he conjured lakelets,
Sang the duck upon the waters, Golden-cheeked and silver-headed,
Sang the feet from shining copper;
And the island maidens wondered,
Stood entranced at Ahti's wisdom,
At the songs of Lemminkainen,
At the hero's magic power.
Spake the singer, Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : —
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
" I would sing a wondrous legend, Sing in miracles of sweetness,
If within some hall or chamber,
I were seated at the table.
If I sing not in the castle,
In some spot by walls surrounded, Then I sing my songs to zephyrs, Fling them to the fields and forests. " Answered thus the island maidens: — " On this isle are castle chambers, Halls for use of magic singers,
Courts complete for chanting legends, Where thy singing will be welcome, Where thy songs will not be scattered To the forests of the island,
Nor thy wisdom lost in ether. "
Straightway Lemminkainen journeyed With the maidens to the castle ;
There he sang and conjured pitchers
On the borders of the tables,
Sang and conjured golden goblets Foaming with the beer of barley ; Sang he many well-filled vessels, Bowls of honey drink abundant, Sweetest butter, toothsome biscuit, Bacon, fish, and veal, and venison, All the dainties of the Northland, Wherewithal to still his hunger. But the proud heart, Lemminkainen, Was not ready for the banquet,
Did not yet begin his feasting, Waited for a knife of silver,
For a knife of golden handle ; Quick he sang the precious metals, Sang a blade from purest silver,
To the blade a golden handle,
Straightway then began his feasting, Quenched his thirst and stilled his hunger, Charmed the maidens on the island.
Then the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Roamed throughout the island hamlets, To the joy of all the virgins,
All the maids of braided tresses ; Wheresoe'er he turned his footsteps, There appeared a maid to greet him;
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
When his hand was kindly offered, There his hand was kindly taken ; When he wandered out at evening, Even in the darksome places,
There the maidens bade him welcome ; There was not an island village
Where there were not seven castles,
In each castle seven daughters,
And the daughters stood in waiting, Gave the hero joyful greetings,
Only one of all the maidens
Whom he did not greet with pleasure.
Thus the merry Lemminkainen Spent three summers in the ocean, Spent a merry time in refuge,
In the hamlets on the island,
To the pleasure of the maidens, To the joy of all the daughters; Only one was left neglected,
She a poor and graceless spinster, On the isle's remotest border,
In the smallest of the hamlets.
Then he thought about his journey O'er the ocean to his mother,
To the cottage of his father.
There appeared the slighted spinster,
To the Northland son departing, — Spake these words to Lemminkainen:
" O thou handsome Kaukomieli,
Wisdom bard, and magic singer,
Since this maiden thou hast slighted, May the winds destroy thy vessel,
Dash thy bark to countless fragments
On the ocean rocks and ledges ! "
Lemminkainen's thoughts were homeward, Did not heed the maiden's murmurs,
Did not rise before the dawning
Of the morning on the island,
To the pleasure of the maiden
Of the much-neglected hamlet. Finally at close of evening,
He resolved to leave the island, He resolved to waken early,
Long before the dawn of morning; Long before the time appointed,
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
He arose that he might wander Through the hamlets of the island, Bid adieu to all the maidens,
On the morn of his departure.
As he wandered hither, thither,
Walking through the village pathways
To the last of all the hamlets ;
Saw he none of all the castles,
Where three dwellings were not standing; Saw he none of all the dwellings
Where three heroes were not watching ; Saw he none of all the heroes,
Who was not engaged in grinding
Swords, and spears, and battle-axes,
For the death of Lemminkainen.
And these words the hero uttered : —
" Now alas ! the Sun arises
From his couch within the ocean,
On the frailest of the heroes,
On the saddest child of Northland ;
On my neck the cloak of Lempo
Might protect me from all evil,
Though a hundred foes assail me,
Though a thousand archers follow. "
Then he left the maids ungreeted,
Left his longing for the daughters
Of the nameless Isle of Refuge,
With his farewell words unspoken, Hastened toward the island harbor,
Toward his magic bark at anchor ;
But he found it burned to ashes,
Sweet revenge had fired his vessel, Lighted by the slighted spinster.
Then he saw the dawn of evil,
Saw misfortune hanging over,
Saw destruction round about him. Straightway he began rebuilding
Him a magic sailing vessel,
New and wondrous, full of beauty ;
But the hero needed timber,
Boards, and planks, and beams, and braces, Found the smallest bit of lumber,
Found of boards but seven fragments,
Of a spool he found three pieces,
Found six pieces of the distaff ;
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
With these fragments builds his vessel, Builds a ship of magic virtue,
Builds the bark with secret knowledge, Through the will of the magician ;
Strikes one blow, and builds the first part, Strikes a second, builds the center,
Strikes a third with wondrous power, And the vessel is completed.
Thereupon the ship he launches, Sings the vessel to the ocean, — And these words the hero utters :
" Like a bubble swim these waters, Like a flower ride the billows ;
Loan me of thy magic feathers, Three, O eagle, four, O raven,
For protection to my vessel, "
Lest it flounder in the ocean !
Now the sailor, Lemminkainen, Seats himself upon the bottom
Of the vessel he has builded, Hastens on his journey homeward, Head depressed and evil-humored, Cap awry upon his forehead,
Mind dejected, heavy-hearted, That he could not dwell forever
In the castles of the daughters
Of the nameless Isle of Refuge.
Spake the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : —
" Leave I must this merry island, Leave her many joys and pleasures, Leave her maids with braided tresses, Leave her dances and her daughters, To the joys of other heroes ;
But I take this comfort with me :
All the maidens on the island,
Save the spinster who was slighted, Will bemoan my loss for ages,
Will regret my quick departure ; They will miss me at the dances,
In the halls of mirth and joyance,
In the homes of merry maidens,
On my father's Isle of Refuge. "
Wept the maidens on the island, Long lamenting, loudly calling
322
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
To the hero sailing homeward : —
" Whither goest, Lemminkainen,
Why depart, thou best of heroes ? Dost thou leave from inattention,
Is there here a dearth of maidens, " Have our greetings been unworthy ?
Sang the magic Lemminkainen To the maids as he was sailing, — This in answer to their calling :
" Leaving not for want of pleasure, Do not go from dearth of women ; Beautiful the island maidens, Countless as the sands their virtues. This the reason of my going,
am longing for my home land, Longing for my mother's cabins, For the strawberries of Northland, For the raspberries of Kalew,
For the maidens of my childhood, For the children of my mother. "
Then the merry Lemminkainen
Bade farewell to all the island ;
Winds arose and drove his vessel
On the blue back of the ocean,
O'er the far extending waters,
Toward the island of his mother.
On the shore were grouped the daughters Of the magic Isle of Refuge,
On the rocks sat the forsaken,
Weeping stood the island maidens, Golden daughters, loud lamenting. Weep the maidens of the island
While the sail yards greet their vision, While the copper beltings glisten ;
Do not weep to lose the sail yards,
Nor to lose the copper beltings ;
Weep they for the loss of Ahti,
For the fleeing Kaukomieli
Guiding the departing vessel.
Also weeps young Lemminkainen,
Sorely weeps, and loud lamenting, Weeps while he can see the island, While the island hilltops glisten ; Does not mourn the island mountains, Weeps he only for the maidens,
Left upon the Isle of Refuge.
I
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
Thereupon sailed Kaukomieli
On the blue back of the ocean ;
Sailed one day, and then a second,
But, alas ! upon the third day,
There arose a mighty stormwind,
And the sky was black with fury.
Blew the black winds from the northwest, From the southeast came the whirlwind, Tore away the ship's forecastle,
Tore away the vessel's rudder,
Dashed the wooden hull to pieces. Thereupon wild Lemminkainen
Headlong fell upon the waters ;
With his head he did the steering,
With his hands and feet, the rowing; Swam whole days and nights unceasing, Swam with hope and strength united,
Till at last appeared a cloudlet,
Growing cloudlet to the westward, Changing to a promontory,
Into land within the ocean.
Swiftly to the shore swam Ahti, Hastened to a magic castle,
Found therein a hostess baking,
And her daughters kneading barley,
And these words the hero uttered : —
" O thou hostess, filled with kindness, Couldst thou know my pangs of hunger, Couldst thou guess my name and station, Thou wouldst hasten to the storehouse. Bring me beer and foaming liquor,
Bring the best of thy provisions,
Bring me fish, and veal, and bacon, Butter, bread, and honeyed biscuits,
Set for me a wholesome dinner, Wherewithal to still my hunger, Quench the thirst of Lemminkainen. Days and nights have I been swimming, Buffeting the waves of ocean,
Seemed as if the wind protected,
And the billows gave me shelter. "
Then the hostess, filled with kindness, Hastened to the mountain storehouse, Cut some butter, veal, and bacon,
Bread, and fish, and honeyed biscuit,
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
Brought the best of her provisions, Brought the mead and beer of barley, Set for him a toothsome dinner, Wherewithal to still his hunger, Quench the thirst of Lemminkainen.
When the hero's feast had ended, Straightway was a magic vessel Given by the kindly hostess
To the weary Kaukomieli,
Bark of beauty, new and hardy, Wherewithal to aid the stranger In his journey to his home land, To the cottage of his mother.
Quickly sailed wild Lemminkainen On the blue back of the ocean ;
Sailed he days and nights unceasing, Till at last he reached the borders
Of his own loved home and country ; There beheld he scenes familiar,
Saw the islands, capes, and rivers, Saw his former shipping stations, Saw he many ancient landmarks,
Saw the mountains with their fir trees, Saw the pine trees on the hilltops,
Saw the willows in the lowlands ;
Did not see his father's cottage,
Nor the dwellings of his mother.
Where a mansion once had risen,
There the alder trees were growing, Shrubs were growing on the homestead, Junipers within the courtyard.
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen : — " In this glen I played and wandered, On these stones I rocked for ages,
On this lawn I rolled and tumbled, Frolicked on these woodland borders, When a child of little stature.
Where then is my mother's dwelling, Where the castles of my father ? Fire, I fear, has found the hamlet, And the winds dispersed the ashes. "
Then he fell to bitter weeping, Wept one day, and then a second, Wept the third day without ceasing ; Did not mourn the ancient homestead, Nor the dwellings of his father ;
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
Wept he for his darling mother, Wept he for the dear departed, For the loved ones of the island.
Then he saw the bird of heaven, Saw an eagle flying near him, — And he asked the bird this question :
" Mighty eagle, bird majestic,
Grant to me the information,
Where my mother may have wandered, Whither I may go and find her! "
But the eagle knew but little,
Only knew that Ahti's people
Long ago together perished ;
And the raven also answered
That his people had been scattered
By the swords, and spears, and arrows, Of his enemies from Pohya. — Spake the hero, Lemminkainen :
" Faithful mother, dear departed, Thou who nursed me in my childhood, Art thou dead and turned to ashes, Didst thou perish for my follies,
O'er thy head are willows weeping, Junipers above thy body,
Alders watching o'er thy slumbers ? This my punishment for evil,
This the recompense of folly !
Fool was I, a son unworthy,
That I measured swords in Northland With the landlord of Pohyola.
To my tribe came fell destruction,
And the death of my dear mother, Through my crimes and misdemeanors. "
Then the minstrel looked about him, Anxious, looked in all directions,
And beheld some gentle footprints,
Saw a pathway lightly trodden
Where the heather had been beaten.
Quick as thought the path he followed, Through the meadows, through the brambles, O'er the hills, and through the valleys,
To a forest, vast and cheerless;
Traveled far and traveled farther,
Still a greater distance traveled, To a dense and hidden glenwood,
LEMMINKAINEN'S VOYAGE.
In the middle of the island ;
Found therein a sheltered cabin,
Found a small and darksome dwelling Built between the rocky ledges,
In the midst of triple pine trees ;
And within he spied his mother,
Found his gray-haired mother weeping.
Lemminkainen loud rejoices,
Cries in tones of joyful greetings, — These the words that Ahti utters :
" Faithful mother, well-beloved,
Thou that gavest me existence,
Happy I, that thou art living,
That thou hast not yet departed
To the kingdom of Tuoni,
To the islands of the blessed.
I had thought that thou hadst perished, Hadst been murdered by my foemen, Hadst been slain with bows and arrows. Heavy are mine eyes from weeping, And my cheeks are white with sorrow, Since I thought my mother slaughtered For the sins I had committed ! " Lemminkainen's mother answered : —
" Long, indeed, hast thou been absent, Long, my son, hast thou been living
In thy father's Isle of Refuge,
Roaming on the secret island,
Living at the doors of strangers,
Living in a nameless country,
Refuge from the Northland foeman. "
Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : —
" Charming is that spot for living, Beautiful the magic island, Rainbow-colored was the forest,
Blue the glimmer of the meadows, Silvered were the pine-tree branches, Golden were the heather blossoms ;
All the woodlands dripped with honey, Eggs in every rock and crevice,
Honey flowed from birch and sorb tree, Milk in streams from fir and aspen, Beer foam dripping from the willows, Charming there to live and linger,
All their edibles delicious.
SLYBOOTS. 827
This their only source of trouble :
Great the fear for all the maidens,
All the heroes filled with envy,
Feared the coming of the stranger ; Thought that all the island maidens, Thought that all the wives and daughters, All the good, and all the evil,
Gave thy son too much attention ; Thought the stranger, Lemminkainen, Saw the island maids too often ;
Yet the virgins I avoided,
Shunned the good and shunned the evil, Shunned the host of charming daughters, As the black wolf shuns the sheepfold, As the hawk neglects the chickens. "
SLYBOOTS.
An Esthonian Folk Tale. Edited by W. F. KIRBY.
In the days of the son of Kaliv there reigned a very rich king of Kungla, who gave a great feast to his subjects every seven years at midsummer, which lasted for two or three weeks
The time for the feast came round again, and its commencement had been looked forward to for some months, though with some uncertainty ; for twice already, seven years ago and fourteen years ago, the anticipated festival had come to nothing. Both times the king had made full preparations for the feast, but no man had tasted it. This seemed strange and incredible, but there were many people everywhere who could bear witness to the facts. It was said that on both these occasions an unknown stranger had come to the head cook and asked to be permitted to taste a little of the food and drink, but the moment he had dipped his spoon in the soup kettle, and put the froth in the beer can to his mouth, the whole contents of the storehouses, pantries, and cellars vanished in a moment, so that not a scrap or drop of anything remained. The cooks and kitchen boys had all seen and sworn to the truth of the matter, but the people were so enraged at the collapse of the
together.
328 SLYBOOTS.
feast that the king was obliged to appease them seven years before, by ordering the head cook to be hanged for having given the stranger permission to taste the food. In order to prevent any repetition of the trouble, the king proclaimed that he would richly reward any one who would undertake the prepara tion of the feast ; and at length, when no one would undertake the responsibility, the king promised his youngest daughter in marriage to any one who should succeed, but added that failure would be punished with death.
A long way from the capital, and near the borders of the kingdom, lived a rich farmer who had three sons, the youngest of whom showed great intelligence from his youth, because the Meadow Queen had nursed him, and had often secretly given him the breast. The father called him Slyboots, and used to say to the brothers, " You two elder ones must earn your living by your bodily strength and by the work of your hands, but as for you, little Slyboots, you will be able to rise higher in the world than your brothers, by your own cleverness. "
Before the father died, he divided all his corn land and meadows between his two elder sons, but to the youngest he gave enough money to enable him to go forth into the wide world to seek his fortune. But the father's corpse was scarcely cold when the two elder brothers stripped the youngest of every farthing, and thrust him out of the door, saying mock ingly, " Your cleverness alone, Slyboots, is to exalt you over our heads, and therefore you might find the money trouble some to you. "
The youngest brother scorned to notice the ill treatment of his brothers, and went cheerfully on his way. " Good fortune may come from God," was the comforting reflection which he took with him from his father's house, and he whistled away his sad thoughts. Just as he was beginning to feel hungry, he encountered two traveling journeymen. His pleasant counte nance and cheerful talk pleased them, and when they rested, they shared their provisions with him, so that Slyboots did not fare so badly on the first day. He parted from his companions before evening quite contented, for his present comfort left him without anxiety for the morrow. He could sleep anywhere, with the green grass for a couch and the blue sky above, and a stone under his head served as well as a soft pillow. Next morning he set out on his way again, and arrived at a lonely farm, where a young woman was sitting at the door, weeping
SLYBOOTS. 329
bitterly. Slyboots asked what was her trouble, and she answered, " I have a bad husband, who beats me every day if I cannot humor his mad freaks. He has ordered me to-day to cook him a fish which is not a fish, and which has eyes, but not in its head. Where in the world shall I find such a creature ? " " Don't cry, young woman," answered Slyboots. " Your hus band wants a crab, which is a water animal to be sure, but is not a fish, and which has eyes, but not in its head. " The woman thanked him for his good advice, and gave him some thing to eat, and a bag of provisions which would last him for several days. As soon as he received this unexpected assist ance, he determined to set out for the royal capital, where cleverness was likely to be in most request, and where he hoped to make his fortune.
Wherever he went, he heard every one talking of the king's midsummer banquet, and when he heard of the reward which was offered to the man who should prepare the feast, he began to reflect whether he might not be able to accomplish the ad venture. " If I succeed," said he to himself, " I shall find my self at a stroke on the highway to fortune; and in the worst case of all, I shall only lose my life, and we must all die sooner or later. If I begin in the right way, why shouldn't I succeed ? Perhaps I may be more fortunate than others. And even if the king should refuse me his daughter, he must at least give me the promised reward in money, which will make me a rich man. "
Buoyed up with such thoughts he pursued his journey, singing and whistling like a lark, sometimes resting under the shadow of a bush during the heat of the day, and sleeping at night under a tree or in the open fields. One morning he finished the last remains of his provisions, and in the evening he arrived safe and sound at the city.
Next day he craved audience of the king. The king saw that he had to deal with an intelligent and enterprising man, and it was easy for them to come to terms. " What is your name ? " asked the king. The man of brains replied, " My baptismal name is Nicodemus, but I was always called Slyboots at home, to show that I did not fall on my head. " "I will leave you your name," returned the king, "but your head must answer for all the mischief if the affair should go wrong. "
Slyboots asked the king to give him seven hundred work men, and set about his preparations without delay. He ordered twenty large sheds to be constructed, and arranged in a square
330 SLYBOOTS.
like a series of large cow houses, so that a great open space was left in the middle, to which led one single large gate. He ordered great cooking pots and caldrons to be built in the rooms which were to be heated, and the ovens were furnished with iron spits, where meat and sausages could be roasted. Other sheds were furnished with great boilers and vats for brewing beer, so that the boilers were above the vats below. Other houses without fireplaces were fitted up as storehouses for cold provisions, such as black bread, barm bracks, white bread, etc. All needful stores, such as flour, groats, meat, salt, lard, butter, etc. , were brought into the open space, and fifty sol diers were stationed before the door, so that nothing should be touched by the finger of any thief. The king came every day to view the preparations, and praised the skill and forethought of Slyboots. Besides all this, several dozen bakehouses were built in the open air, and a special guard of soldiers was sta tioned before each. They slaughtered for the feast a thousand oxen, two hundred calves, five hundred swine, ten thousand sheep, and many more small animals, which were driven to gether in flocks from all quarters. Stores of provisions were constantly brought by river in boats and barges, and by land in wagons, and this went on without intermission for several weeks. Seven thousand hogsheads were brewed of beer alone. Although the seven hundred assistants toiled late and early, and many additional laborers were engaged, yet most of the toil and trouble fell upon Slyboots, who was obliged to look sharply after the others at every point. He had warned the cooks, the bakers, and the brewers, in the most stringent man ner, not to allow any strange mouth to taste the food or drink, and any one who broke this command was threatened with the gallows. If such a greedy stranger should make his appearance anywhere, he was to be brought immediately to the superintend ent of the preparations.
On the morning of the first day of the feast, word was brought to Slyboots that an unknown old man had come into one of the kitchens, and asked the cook to allow him to taste a little from the soup kettle with a spoon, which the cook could not permit him to do on his own responsibility. Slyboots ordered the stranger to be brought before him, and presently he beheld a little old man with gray hair, who humbly begged to be allowed to taste the food and drink prepared for the ban quet. Slyboots told him to come into one of the kitchens, when
SLYBOOTS. 331
he would gratify his wish if it were possible. As they went, he scanned the old man sharply, to see whether he could not detect something strange about him. Presently he observed a shining gold ring on the ring finger of the old man's left hand. When they reached the kitchen, Slyboots asked, " What security can you give me that no harm shall come of it if I let you taste the food ? " " My lord," answered the stranger, " I have nothing to offer you as a pledge. " Slyboots pointed to the fine gold ring and demanded that as a pledge.
The old fellow resisted with all his might, protesting that the ring was a token of remembrance from his dead wife, and he had vowed never to take it from his hand, lest some misfortune should happen. "Then it is quite impossible for me to grant your request," said Slyboots, " for I cannot permit any one to taste either the food or drink without a pledge. " The old man was so anxious about it that at last he gave his ring as a pledge.
Just as he was about to dip his spoon in the pot, Slyboots struck him so heavy a blow on the head with the flat of an ax that it might have felled the strongest ox ; but the old fellow did not fall, but only staggered a little. Then Slyboots seized him by the beard with both hands, and ordered strong ropes to be brought, with which he bound the old man hand and foot, and hung him up by the legs to a beam. Then Slyboots said to him mockingly : " You may wait there till the feast is over, and then we will resume our conversation. Meantime, I'll keep your ring, on which your power depends, as a token. " The old man was obliged to submit, whether he liked it or not, for he was bound so firmly that he could not move hand or foot.
Then the great feast began, to which the people flocked in thousands from all quarters. Although the feasting lasted for three whole weeks, there was no want of either food or drink, for there was plenty and to spare.
The people were much pleased, and had nothing but praise for the king and the manager of the feast. When the king was about to pay Slyboots the promised reward, he answered, "I have still a little business to transact with the stranger before I receive my reward. " Then he took seven strong men with him, armed with heavy cudgels, and took them to the place where the old man had been hanging for the last three weeks. "Now, then," said Slyboots, "grasp your cud gels firmly, and belabor the old man so that he shall never forget his hospitable reception for the rest of his life. " The
332 SLYBOOTS.
seven men began to whack the old man all at once, and would soon have made an end of his life if the rope had not given way under their blows. The little man fell down and van ished underground in an instant, leaving a wide opening
behind him. Then said Slyboots : "
which I must follow him. Bring the king a thousand greet ings from me, and tell him to divide my reward among the poor, if I should not return. "
He then crept downwards through the hole in which the old man had disappeared. At first he found the pathway very narrow, but it widened considerably at the depth of a few fathoms, so that he was able to advance easily. Steps were hewn in the rock, so that he did not slip, notwithstand ing the darkness. Slyboots went on for some distance, till he came to a door. He looked through a crack, and saw three young girls sitting with the old man, whose head was resting on the lap of one of them. The girl was saying, "If I only rub the bruise a few times more with the bell, the pain and swelling will disappear. " Slyboots thought, "That is cer tainly the place where I struck the old man with the back of the ax three weeks ago. " He decided to wait behind the door till the master of the house had lain down to sleep and the fire was extinguished. Presently the old man said, " Help me into my room, that I may go to bed, for my body is quite out of joint and I can't move hand or foot. " Then they brought him to his room. When it grew dark, and the girls had left the room, Slyboots crept gently in and hid himself behind the beer barrel.
Presently the girls came back, and spoke gently, so as not to rouse the old man. " The bruise on the head is of no con sequence," said one, " and the sprained body will also soon be cured ; but the loss of the ring of strength is irreparable, and this troubles the old man more than his bodily sufferings. " Soon afterwards they heard the old man snoring ; and Sly boots came out of his hiding place and made friends with the maidens. At first they were rather frightened, but the clever youth soon contrived to dispel their alarm, and they allowed him to stay there for the night. The maidens told him that the old man possessed two great treasures, —a magic sword and a rod of rowan wood, — and he resolved to possess himself of both. The rod would form a bridge over the sea for its possessor, and he who bore the sword could destroy the
I have his pledge, with
SLYBOOTS. 333
most numerous army. On the following evening, Slyboots contrived to seize upon the wand and the sword, and escaped before daybreak with the help of the youngest girl. But the passage had disappeared from before the door, and in its place he found a large inclosure, beyond which was a broad sea.
As soon as Slyboots was gone, the girls began to quarrel, and their loud talking woke up the old man. He learned from what they said that a stranger had been there, and he rose up in a passion, and found the wand and sword gone. " My best treasures are stolen ! " he roared, and, forgetting his bruises, he rushed out. Slyboots was still sitting on the beach, thinking whether he should try the power of the wand or seek for a dry path. Suddenly he heard a rushing sound behind him like a gust of wind. When he looked round, he saw the old man charging upon him like a madman. He sprang up, and had" just time to strike the waves" with the rod and to cry out, Bridge before, water behind ! He had scarcely spoken when he found himself standing on a bridge over the sea, already at some distance from the shore.
The old man came to the beach panting and puffing, but stopped short when he saw the thief on the bridge over the sea. He called out, snuffling, " Nicodemus, my son, where are you going? " " Home, papa," was the reply. " Nicodemus, my son, you struck me on the head with an ax, and hung me up to a beam by the legs. " "Yes, papa. " " Nicodemus, my son, did you call seven men to beat me, and steal my gold ring from me ? " "Yes, papa. " "Nicodemus, my son, have you bamboozled my daughters ? " " Yes, papa. " " Nicodemus, my son, have you stolen my sword and wand? " " "Yes, papa. " "Nicodemus, my son, will you come back ? " Yes, papa," answered Sly boots again. Meantime he had advanced so far on the bridge that he could no longer hear the old man speak. When he had crossed the sea, he inquired the nearest way to the royal city, and hastened thither to claim his reward.
But lo ! he found everything very different from what he had expected. Both his brothers had entered the service of the king, one as a coachman and the other as a chamberlain. Both were living in grand style and were rich people. When Slyboots applied to the king for his reward, the latter answered : " I waited for you for a whole year, and I neither saw nor heard anything of you. I supposed you were dead, and was about to
334 SLYBOOTS.
divide your reward among the poor, as you desired. But one day your elder brothers arrived to inherit your fortune. I left the matter to the court, who assigned the money to them, because it was supposed that you were dead. Since then your brothers have entered my service, and both still remain in it. "
When Slyboots heard what the king said, he thought he must be dreaming, for he imagined that he had been only two nights in the old man's subterranean dwelling, and had then taken a few days to return home ; but now it appeared that each night had been as long as a year. He would not go to law with his brothers, but abandoned the money to them, thanked God that he had escaped with his life, and looked out for some fresh employment. The king's cook engaged him as kitchen boy, and he now had to turn the joints on the spit every day. His brothers despised him for his mean employment, and did not like to have anything to do with him, although he still loved them. One evening he told them of much that he had seen in the underworld, where the geese and ducks had gold and silver plumage. The brothers related this to the king, and begged them to send their youngest brother to fetch these curious birds. The king sent for the kitchen boy, and ordered him to start next morning in search of the birds with the costly feathers.
Slyboots set out next day with a heavy heart, but he took with him the ring, the wand, and the sword, which he had care fully preserved. Some days afterwards he searched the sea, and saw an old man with a long gray beard sitting on a stone at the place where he had reached land after his flight. When Slyboots came nearer, the old man asked, " Why are you so sad, my friend ? " Slyboots told him how badly he had fared, and the old man bid him be of good cheer, and not vex himself, adding, " No harm can happen to you as long as you wear the ring of strength. " He then gave Slyboots a mussel shell, and advised him to build the bridge with the magic wand to the middle of the sea, and then to step on the shell with his left foot, when he would immediately find himself in the under world, while every one there was asleep. He also advised him to make himself a bag of spun yarn, in which to put the water birds with gold and silver plumage, and then he could return unmolested. Everything fell out as the old man predicted, but Slyboots had hardly reached the seashore with his booty when
SLYBOOTS. 335
he heard his former acquaintance behind him ; and when he was on the bridge he heard him calling out, " Nicodemus, my son," and repeating the same questions as before. At last he asked if he had stolen the birds. Slyboots answered " Yes " to every question, and hastened on.
Slyboots arrived at the royal city in the evening, as his friend with the gray beard had foretold, and the yarn bag held the birds so well that none had escaped. The king made him a present, and told him to go back next day, for he had heard from the two elder brothers that the lord of the underworld had many gold and silver utensils, which the king desired for his own use. Slyboots did not venture to refuse, but he went very unwillingly, because he did not know how to manage the affair. However, when he reached the seashore he met his friend with the gray beard, who asked the reason of his sad ness. The old man gave Slyboots another mussel shell and a handful of small stones, with the following advice: " If you go there in the afternoon, you will find the father in bed taking his siesta, the daughters spinning in the sitting room, and the grandmother in the kitchen scouring the gold and silver vessels bright. Climb nimbly on the chimney, throw down the stones tied up in a bag on the old woman's neck, come down yourself as quick as possible, put the costly vessels in the yarn bag, and then run off as fast as your legs will carry you. "
Slyboots thanked his friend, and followed his advice exactly. But when he dropped the bag of pebbles, it expanded into a six hundredweight sack of paving stones, which dashed the old woman to the ground. In a moment Slyboots swept all the gold and silver vessels into his bag and took to flight. When the Old Boy heard the noise, he thought the chimney had fallen down, and did not venture to get up directly. But when he had called the grandmother for a long time without receiving any answer, he was obliged to go himself. When he discovered the misfortune that had happened, he hastened in pursuit of the thief, who could not be gone far. Slyboots was already on the sea when his pursuer reached the shore, panting and puffing. As before, the Old Boy cried out, "Nicodemus, my son," and repeated the former questions. At last he asked, " Nicodemus, my son, have you stolen my gold and silver utensils ? " " Cer tainly, my father," answered Slyboots. " Nicodemus, my son, do you promise to come again ? " " No, my father," answered Slyboots, hurrying along the bridge. Although the old man
336 SLYBOOTS.
cursed and scolded after the thief, he could not catch him, and he had now been despoiled of all his magic treasures.
Slyboots found his friend with the gray beard waiting for him on the other side of the sea, and he threw down the bag of heavy gold and silver ware, which the ring of strength had enabled him to bring away, and sat down to rest his weary limbs. "
Your
When Slyboots came before the king with his rich booty, which was enough to make at least ten horse loads, he found him extremely kind and friendly, and he took the opportunity to make the request which his old friend had advised. The king was glad that the treasure bringer asked for no greater reward, and ordered his daughter to hide herself behind the door in the evening, to overhear what the coachman and the chamberlain were talking about.
The brothers had grown haughty with prosperity, and boasted of their good luck, and what was worse, they both boasted to each other of the favors of the princess in her own hearing ! She ran to her father, flushed with shame and anger, and told him, weeping, what shameful lies she had heard with her own ears, and begged him to punish the wretches. The king imme diately ordered them both to be thrown into prison, and when they had confessed their guilt before the court next day, they were executed, while Slyboots was promoted to the rank of king's councilor.
Some time afterwards the country was invaded by a foreign king, and Slyboots was sent against the enemy in the field. Then he drew the sword which he had brought from the under world for the first time, and began to slaughter the hostile army, and soon none were left alive on the bloody field. The king was so pleased at the victory that he made Slyboots his son-in-law.
The old man now told him much that shocked him.
brothers hate you, and will do all they can to destroy you, if you do not oppose their wicked attempts. They will urge the king on to set you tasks in which you are very likely to perish. When you bring your rich load to the king this evening, you will find him friendly disposed towards you; and then ask, as your only reward, that his daughter should be hidden behind the door in the evening, to hear what your brothers talk about together. "
RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES. 337
RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES. Edited by R. NISBET BAIN. The Golden Mountain.
There was once upon a time a merchant's son who squan dered and wasted all his goods. To such a pass did he come at last that he had nothing to eat. So he seized a spade, went out into the market place, and began waiting to see if any one would hire him as a laborer. And behold, the merchant who was one in seven hundred [seven hundred times richer than any one else] came along that way in his gilded coach ; all the day laborers saw him, and the whole lot of them immediately scattered in every direction and hid themselves in corners. The merchant's son alone of them all remained standing in the market place. "
" Do you want work, young man ?
said the merchant who was one in seven hundred ; " then take hire from me. "
" Right willingly ; 'twas for no other reason that I came to the market place. " "
" And what wage do you require ?
" If you lay me down one hundred roubles a day, 'tis a bar gain. " "
" If you think it dear, go and seek a cheaper article ; but this I know, crowds of people were here just now, you came, and —away they all bolted. "
" That is somewhat dear !
" Well, agreed ! come to-morrow to the haven. "
The next day, early in the morning, our merchant's son came to the haven ; the merchant who was one in seven hun dred had already been awaiting him some time. They went on board ship and went to sea. They sailed and sailed. In the midst of the sea an island appeared ; on this island stood high mountains, and on the sea-shore something or other was burn ing like fire. "
" Can that which I see be fire ?
" Nay, that is my little golden castle. "
They drew near to the island ; they went ashore ; his wife and
daughter came forth to meet the merchant who was one in seven hundred, and the daughter was beautiful with a beauty that no man can imagine or devise, and no tale can tell. As soon as
said the merchant's son.
338 RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES.
they had greeted one another they went on to the castle, and took the new laborer along with them ; they sat them down at table, they began to eat, drink, and be merry. " A fig for to-day," said the host; "to-day we'll feast, to-morrow we'll work. "
And the merchant's son was a fair youth, strong and stately, of a ruddy countenance like milk and blood, and he fell in love with the lovely damsel. She went out into the next room ; she called him secretly, and gave him a flint and steel. " Take them," said she, "and if you should be in any need, use them. "
Next day the merchant who was one in seven hundred set out with his servant for the high golden mountain. They climbed and climbed, but they climbed not up to the top; they crawled and crawled, but they crawled not up to the top.
"Well," said the merchant, "let's have a drink first of all. " And the merchant handed him a sleeping poison. The laborer drank and fell asleep.
The merchant drew out his knife, killed his wretched nag which he had brought with him, took out its entrails, put the young man into the horse's stomach, put the spade in too, sewed up the wound, and went and hid himself among the bushes.
Suddenly there flew down a whole host of black iron-beaked ravens. They took up the carcass, carried it up into the mountain, and fell a-pecking it; they began eating up the horse, and soon pierced right down to the merchant's son. Then he awoke, beat off the black crows, " looked hither and thither, and asked himself, " Where am I ?
The merchant who was one in seven hundred bawled up at him, " On the golden mountain ; come, take your spade and dig gold. "
So he digged and digged, throwing it all down below, and
the merchant put it on wagons. By evening he had filled
nine wagons.
"That'll do," cried the merchant who was one in seven
hundred ; " thanks for your labor. Adieu ! "
"Buthowabout me? "
"You may get on as best you can. Ninety- nine of your
sort have perished on that mountain — you will just make up the hundred ! " Thus spake the merchant, and departed.
RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES. 339
" What's to be done now ? " thought the merchant's son : " to get down from this mountain is quite impossible. I shall certainly starve to death. " So there he stood on the mountain, and above him wheeled the black iron-beaked crows: they plainly scented their prey. He began to bethink him how all this had come to pass, and then it occurred to him how the lovely damsel had taken him aside and given him the flint and steel, and said to him herself, "Take and you are in need make use of it. "
"And look now, she did not say in vain. Let us try it. "
arms and bore him carefully down from the mountain. The
and, lo, ship was
"
stoppage would lose
The merchant's son took out the flint and steel, struck once, and immediately out jumped two fair young heroes.
" What do you want What do you want
"Take me from this mountain to the sea-shore. "
He had no sooner spoken than they took him under the
" Hi, good ship folk, take me with you!
"Nay, brother, we cannot stop: such us one hundred knots. "
The mariners passed by the island: contrary winds began to blow, frightful hurricane arose. "Alas! he plainly no simple man of our sort, we had better turn back and take him on board ship. " So they returned to the island, stopped by the shore, took up the merchant's son, and conveyed him to his native town.
A long time and little time passed by, and then the mer chant's son took his spade and again went out into the market place to wait for some one to hire him. Again the merchant who was one in seven hundred passed by in his gilded carriage; the day laborers saw him and scattered in every direction, and hid them in corners. The merchant's son was the sole solitary little one left.
" Will you take hire from me one in seven hundred.
"
said the merchant who was
"Willingly; put down two hundred roubles day, and set me my work. " "
" Rather dear, eh
" If you find dear, go and seek cheaper labor. You saw how
"
merchant's son walked about by the shore sailing by the island.
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